Discussing the themes identified from a thematic analysis of previous studies involves a systematic and organized approach to presenting and interpreting the findings. In this post, I'll share with you a roadmap to deal with the thematic analysis process I used for my doctoral research. Thematic analysis enables us to unearth hidden insights, decipher patterns, and extract meaning from the data we collect.

1. Unlocking the Secrets of
Thematic Analysis:
A Roadmap to Discovering
Meaningful Insights
A Guide for PhD students and Early Career Researchers
Sarasadat Makian
Let's take our early career research to new heights

2. 🔍Step 1: Introduction
- Start by introducing the purpose of your thematic
analysis and the specific research question or
objective.
- Mention the methodology used (e.g., qualitative
content analysis, grounded theory, etc.).
- Briefly outline the studies you've analyzed and
provide context about their research objectives.
Sarasadat Makian

3. 📊Step 2: Data Collection and Coding
- Briefly describe how you collected and selected
the data for analysis. Explain any
inclusion/exclusion criteria.
- Mention the coding process, including who
conducted the coding, the coding software used (if
any), and the process of developing the initial
coding framework.
Sarasadat Makian

4. 🌱Step 3: Identified Themes
- Present the themes that emerged from your
thematic analysis. This can be done in a tabular
format or as a list.
- Provide a clear and concise definition or
description of each theme.
- Consider whether some themes were more
prevalent or recurrent in the coded data.
Sarasadat Makian

5. 🔮Step 4: Supporting Evidence
- For each theme, provide examples or quotes
from the studies you analyzed that illustrate the
theme.
- Highlight the diversity of data sources and the
number of instances where each theme was found.
Sarasadat Makian

6. 🗣️Step 5: Discussion of Themes
- Analyze and discuss the significance of each
theme about your research question or objective.
- Explore how these themes align with or
challenge existing literature and theories.
- Discuss any variations or contradictions within
and between the identified themes.
- Consider the context in which each theme was
observed and any potential implications.
Sarasadat Makian

7. 🧮Step 6: Comparison of Themes
- To determine the most significant theme, you
can use the number of coded items as one metric
for comparison.
- Calculate the frequency of each theme (i.e., the
number of instances it appeared in the coded
data).
- You may also consider the richness and depth of
data within each theme. A theme with fewer
instances but more nuanced and detailed data may
be more significant.
Sarasadat Makian

8. 🌟Step 7: Synthesis and Conclusion
- Summarize the key findings from your thematic
analysis, including the main themes and their
significance.
- Reflect on the implications of these themes for
the broader field of study.
- Discuss any limitations of your analysis and
areas for future research.
Sarasadat Makian

9. 🌐Step 8: Recommendations
- Offer recommendations for researchers or
practitioners based on your thematic analysis
findings.
- Suggest potential areas for further exploration
or study.
Sarasadat Makian